Suction device.



W. H. HALL.

- SUCTION DEVICE. V APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1912.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913',

\ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. H. HALL.

SUCTION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1912 1,072,943. PatentedSept. 9, 191

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@QW 044w 2 wone s'rars r WILLIAM H. HALL, OF CICERO, ILLINOIS.-

SUCTION notc es;

Specification of Letters Patent.

gonvrcn.

Application filed August 15, 1912. Serial 'cT o. 715,144.

To all whom '2'! may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. HALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cicero, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to tion devices, and more particularlyto cleaners for cleaning rugs, carpets, etc., when on the floor, and oneof the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a cleaner ofthis general character comprising a suction cleaning device for removingfine dlrt, dust, etc., from the floor, and a revolving brush adapted to.collect thread, lint and other objects which are not readily picked upby the suction device. 1

A' further object is the provision of ,a novel and improved suctiondevice which is' separably mounted on the main frame of the machine andmay be swung back to permitthe removal of the suction dust-pan, thebrush and itscollecting pan, and may be swung down over the top of theframe to form a cover for the machine and effect a hermetic connectionbetween the suction nozzle and the suction device.

Other objects and advantages of the presa perspective view of a cleanerembodying my ,invention'showing the suction device separated from themain frame of the machine and tilted partway back; Fig. 2 is an enlargedfragmentary elevation showing the suction device tilted back to itsextreme position; Fig.3 is a rear view of the ma-. chine, part of thecasing being broken away to show the interior thereof; Fig. 4 is asectional view taken substantially on the line 4 l of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 isa perspedtive view of the brush pan, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysectional view through one of the rear corners of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 6 designates generally the mainframe of themachine constructed to provide an open-top air chamber 7, and a nozzle 8at the front of the machine having a channel or passageway 9communicating with the air chamber 7. A

dust-pan 11, preferably constructed of tin or light sheet metal, isadapted to set loosely in the air chamber 7 andto receive the dust anddirt drawn in through the nozzle passageway 9, A screen comprising aframe 12 and a suitable fabric 13 stretched thereon is adapted to bepositioned iii'the main frame 6 directly over the pan, as shown in Fig.4, the air chamber 7 being provided adjacent its open top aperipheralledge or shoulder 14 upon which the screen rests. Upon the upper edge ofthe screen frame there is provided a gasket 15 of leather or othersuitable material which projects from the perimeter of the screen andoverlies the upper edges of the dust chamber walls, the gasket beingadapted to afford a hermetic connection between the air chamber and theair pump in a manner whichwill be later described.

Each rear side wall of the frame 6 has a bracket 16 secured thereto,saidbracket being-bent inwardly at the end of the frame and then'rearwardly as shown in Fig. .6,

so as to project beyondthe frame in position to recelve a transverselyextending shaft 17 upon the ends of whichare mounted the driving wheels18, by means of which the rear end of the machine is supported- ThePatented Sept. 9, leis.

front of the machine rests upon the noz- I zle 8, andfthe machine iscaused .to travel back and forth upon the floor or other s rface beingcleaned by a suitable handle 1 9- connected with a bail 21pivotallyattached to each side of the main frame.

Suction is' induced through the nozzle 8 by means of'a suitable suctiondevice or a pump, onexp'ra tical form of which is shown in Flgs. 1,- 3andA. This pump comprises afiat base 22 prfivided at its rear end withdownwardly projecting brackets 23 supported on the shaft 17 adjacent thebrackets 16. The pumpbase therefore has a hinged connection with themain frame of the machine which permits the pump to be closed down overthe frame in the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby forming a covertherefor. A suitable gasket 24 is preferably provided on the lower faceof the base member to cooperate with the gasket 15 on tlie screen frameto effect a. hermetic connection be tween the pump base and the airchamber lows consists of a stationary bottugmtmem-- her or plate 26secured to the base member 22, a stationary top member or plate 27rigidly attached to themember 26 at the nose of the bellows by a block28, and a movable intermediate member 29. The rear ends of the members27 are supported in elevated position by straps or braces 31 fixedlysecured at their lower ends to the members 26 and at their upper ends tothe members 27 The intermediate member 29 is hinged-to the block 28preferably by a 2-ply leather strap or sheet 32 which extends throughoutthe width of the bellows, and has its projecting ends 33 and 34'securedto-the sides of the members 27 and 26 respectively to insure anair-tight partition between the two air chambers of each bellows. Thesides and rear end of the member 29 are connected with the members 26and 27 by any suitable flexible material 35 adapted to collapse andpermit up and down. movement of the member 29 betweenthe members 26 and27. The rear end of each member 29 is I connected with its respectivedriving wheel 18 by a pivoted link 36, which upon rotation of the wheelswings the member 29 up and down about the leather hinges 32.

The lower chamber of each bellows communicates with the air chamber 7 inthe main frame through an aperture 30 over which is positioned a valveconsisting of a pair of metal disks 37 embracing a flexible disk 38' ofleather or other suitable material. A spring 39 affixed to the member 26by screws 41 or other suitable fastening means projects over the valveand is provided near its end-with an aperture which fits loosely over astud 42 projecting from theupper face of the valve. The valve is therebyyieldingly held in operative position, and may be removed when occasionrequires by simpl lifting the free end of the spring 39 out oengagementwith the stud 42, whereupon the valve may be readily removed.Theexhaust valves 43 for the lower chambers are substantially similar tothe inlet valve, and cover the exhaust openings 44 in the base of thebellows. Near the nose 1 of the bellows the members 26 and 29 areprovided with alined openings 45 and 46 which are connected by acollapsible tube 47 through which communication is established betweenthe air chamber 7 and the upper chamber of the bellows. -The tube 47 maybe constructed of any suitable material, and is affixed at'its ends tothe members 26 and 29 in any approved manner. An .inlet valve 47 and an'outlet valve 48 permit ingress bellows base 22, this casing beingadapted to afford protection to the bellows give the machine a neat androunded appearance. Fromthe foregoing it will be understood that whenthe machine 'is run back and forth across a floor or carpet the dustwill. be

drawn into the air chamber through the nozwhich is adapted to pick upand collect material ofthis character. The brush designated by 49 may beof any preferred construction, and has pintles 51 projecting from "theends thereof and adapted to revolve in suitable slotted bearings formedin the brackets 16. In some instances it may not be desirable to use thebrush, and in order that it may be readily removed when not required, orfor the purposes of-cleaning, the

slots52 formed in the bracket 16 are open at their upper ends to receivethe pintles 51, and are provided at their lower ends with disposed whenthe brush is in operative po I an offset portion 53 in which the pintlesare 'sition. In order to yieldingly hold the brush in position I preferto recess the side members of the frame as indicated at 54 and todispose a suitable leaf spring 55 in each recess which normally andyieldingly retains the pintles-in the position shown in Fig. 4. It willbe obvious that by simply moving the brush tothe left, viewing Fig. 4,against the force of the springs it may be readily lifted out of theslots and removed from the machine.

A collectin' pan 56, shown in Fig. 5, is made prefera ly of sheet metaland formed to removably fit down over the brush and provide collectingpockets 57 and 58 at each side of the brush in which the material takenup by the brush isdeposited. It will be observed that the constructionof the machine frame afi'ords suflicient space. on eachside of the brushto accommodate a dirt-receiving pocket, thereby providing a repositoryfor the rece tion of'the material'collected by the .brus irrespective ofthe; direction of travel of the brush. This pan is equipped with.--projecting portions 59 at the ends adapted to rest upon the mainframe of the machine and support the pan in operativ position. When thebellows are turned been into inoperative position, as shown in Fig.

2, the pan 56-may be. readily lifted out and dumped. An openingfil isprovided in the chin the screen '13 is u'siially lifted out .the pan Gdumped into. the pan 1'1,.'Where upon all of the refusemaylbedisposedvot 111g it.

by simply removing th'epan 11 and diimpr The brush 4Q?) is caused tooperate when" the apparatus is moved over the surface be In .2 cleanedby frict onal engagement '-be-.

' tween thebrush and one or both ofthe driv '10 ing wheels 18. Tothisend' anflenlarg ement 80 is formed in' the, present .'-"'embod11nent]'.up'on the central shaft 69; which is' engaged by'a wheel 18 as shownin 'Figgfi." Both the i'vheelfa'nd enlargenient.or either of them ,15

may be provided, Within coverjof friction-z "producing"material asrubberJorthe' liketo :nsnre continuous operation of the brush-pen tion53. Tl'ie'slot 52ispreferably offset sinfi- .ci'entlyto permit thespring t0 holdythe enlargement or, theshaftGQf when no enlargement isprovided in ment with the wheellS, i I V In order tostrengthen thebrackets '16" and also to reinforce the rearKWaIl-of the a I I yielchngengagei pan 56 I Qjprovide a-"cross-rod 62' secured/- at eaeh'encl to abracket. 16 and extending. transversely of the machmc-fadment the 'rearwall of the pan 56.' The brackets 16 are also equipped with suitablestops G'3'tolimit the vinging movement o-f'the bellows and supportthefbellows PIIQII in inoperw. tivepositi-omas shoWn in'Fig. 2. Thebellows may be clamped doivn to'efi'e'ct anz airtight connection withthe-air-chamber 7 by:

any suitable fastening means, In the'p'res ent "instance; however; Ihaire shown .one'

practical fastening'in the form-015ameme: ber 64$ pivoted to the frontof -the-fmai n iframe and, provided With a-lateraHy-open-X '40,

mg. slot adapted tof-coiiperate' with a'pin" 65 on a; plvotal member-66mounted1n*0- perative relationfo'n the tru k of ":m bellows. s Y

.QFroin Q-t'heforegoing will be iinder 5 e5' sto od that the device maybejus'edeither} si niplyaas 'a mct unr cleaner or c0mbinedvaciriinr-fand Inechanrcal cleanen When it is desired" to clean-themachine the bellows are tipped back ,into"vert1cal 1308121011;.Wh8i?l1p0n the soreenl'LQ may be litted out and brushed 03, the pan 56.may i be lifted out and: dumped, the,-brush, AH)

ii 'ay be remoi'ed and cleaned-and tli pan experienced person. i v 7means WlllCllw clamps the bellows ,to, the

11 mayalso be removed and dumped. I'The 'arious parts are all" re-adilyaccessible' when" the bellows are tilted 'back, andi thenmay.

be quickly and easily assembledfby an in A: single 7 fastening -l Copiesof tht patont n'iaifbe obtalneo'jor five cents heel 1, by y Weshinton,1)'.,6.

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frame serves to hold all 'ot'vthe parts in operativev position, and theunfasteningot this means permits the bellows to be turned back soas to,uncover all of the removable parts of themachine, j It isbelieved thatmy invention will be understood from theforegoi'ng- Without in rt-herdescriptio-n; and While I haVe shown and; described a; preferredembodiment thereofit will be zip'parentythat various deviat-ions fr'omthe structural details dis closed maybe made n'rithoutfleparting'from"t'he'fspirit of-the' invention as'defined in the following claims; Iclaim of a-suitable frame work forming the side .walls and bottomJofvair chamber and 1. In awacu um cleaner, thecombination provided withanairIinlet', a shatt at one .i

end of said frame 'wo'r 5" supporting wheels mounted thereon,- anda pumph nged on said shaft and adapted to close down over said chamber to forman air-tight connection with the Walls thereof. s i

2." In ava'crium eleanerpth'e combination lot asuitable frame formingthe side- Walls.

and bottomjof an air. chamber, a shaft carried by sa d frame; a pumpswingingl mounted on said shaft to close down over,

said air chamber, driving connections between .said shaft and pump, andmeans for niaintainlngx an a1r-t1ght connection be tween walls. I t i 3In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a body formed toprovidean opentop receptacle, a driving shaftmOunt'ed tbere' .on, and a. slictiondevic'e'lmonnted to swing the "to of said receptacle, said'body and:base being adapted when closed 'npon each other tohpro-vide an'airchamber beneath the suction device,

tion of the bellows-whereby said bellows may b'e swung 'b ack'ab out theshaft Without disconnecting-(the driving connections.

v I WILLIAM H. HALL.

-' .lvitnesseszf r 7 IRA JtfWHisoN,

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

about said shaft and ha'ving a base to fit the pump base and said airchamber E

